American Political Plays after 9/11: #REF!

Back of the Throat

137 BACK OF THE THROAT Yussef El Guindi Production Notes BACK OF THE THROAT was winner of the 2004 Northwest Playwrights’ Competition held by Theater Schmeater. It won L.A. Weekly’s Excellence in Playwriting Award for 2006. It was also nominated for the 2006 American Theater Critics Association’s Steinberg/ ATCA New Play Award and was voted Best New Play of 2005 by the Seattle Times. It was most recently staged in London at the Old Red Lion Theatre (2008). Back of the Throat is also published by Dramatists Play Service. Characters khaled bartlett carl asfoor shelly beth jean Note: shelly, beth, and jean are to be played by the same actor. (The setting is khaled’s apartment. Some time after the attacks. The play is performed without intermission.) (khaled’s studio. Futon on floor. Assorted objects, furniture. bartlett stands opposite khaled. carl is flipping through a book. He will continue to methodically inspect other books, papers, as well as clothes.) bartlett: We appreciate this. khaled: Whatever you need, please. bartlett: This is informal, so— khaled: I understand. bartlett: Casual. As casual as a visit like this can be. khaled: Either way. Make it formal if you want. I want to help. I’ve been looking for a way to help. +DYLV&KLQGG 30 Yussef El Guindi 138 bartlett: Thanks. khaled: Horrible. bartlett: Yes. khaled: Horrible. bartlett: Nice space. khaled: Yes.—A little claustrophobic. But it’s cheap. bartlett: Live simply they say. khaled: I’d live extravagantly if I could afford it. bartlett: What’s this say? (bartlett picks up a picture frame from a table.) khaled: A present from my mother. . . . It says, er, “God.” bartlett: “God”? khaled: Yes. bartlett: It’s pretty. khaled: It is. . . . I’m not religious myself. bartlett: I’ve always been impressed with this . . . (Makes a motion over the writing with his finger.) khaled: Calligraphy? bartlett: Very artistic. Why the emphasis on—calligraphy? I see it all the time. khaled: Well—frankly—I’m not sure it’s—. I know in general that the religion tends to favor abstraction to, er, human representation. The idea being to avoid worship, or, too much distraction with the, um, human form. . . . In truth I don’t know a whole lot about it. bartlett: No television? khaled: No. Too addictive. It’s easier to remove the temptation. bartlett: (Picking up a book.) You didn’t see the images? khaled: Oh yes. God, yes. How could I not. I wish I hadn’t. (The tinkling of a tune is heard. khaled and bartlett turn in the direction of carl, who is standing holding a music box.) (A beat as they all stand and listen to the tune.) carl: “Oklahoma”? khaled: I’ve never been able to identify the tune. bartlett: (Referring to the book.) And what’s this about? (carl closes the music box and places it next to another object he’s selected. He resumes his search.) +DYLV&KLQGG 30 Back of the Throat 139 khaled: It’s the, um—Koran. bartlett: Huh. So this is it. khaled: Another present from my mother. Her idea of a subtle hint. bartlett: (Flips through book.) You’re not religious, you say? khaled: No. She is. bartlett: Didn’t rub off. khaled: Unfortunately not. bartlett: Why “unfortunately”? khaled: Well—because I hear it’s a comfort. bartlett: And if you had to sum up the message of this book in a couple of lines. khaled: Er. The usual. Be good. Or else. bartlett: Sounds like good advice to me. How come you’re not religious? (khaled looks over at what carl is rifling through.) khaled: I was never comfortable with the “or else” part. bartlett: Nobody likes the punishment part. khaled: I’d like to think God isn’t as small-minded as we are. bartlett: I guess the point is there are consequences for our actions. Funny, huh. How a book can have such an impact. khaled: Yes. I was just reading about Martin Luther and the Reformation and how the whole— bartlett: (Interrupting.) Am I pronouncing that correctly? “Kaled”? khaled: Close enough. (To carl.) Is there anything in particular you’re looking for? bartlett: Don’t mind him. He’s just going to do his thing. khaled: But if there’s anything— bartlett: (Interrupting.) With your permission, if we still have that. khaled: Go ahead, but if there’s something— bartlett: (Interrupting.) “Kaled”? khaled: Er...